Automatic attribute structural variation detection for not only structured query language database

ABSTRACT

Methods and a system are provided. A method includes automatically detecting, by an attribute structural variation detector, attribute structural variations in record schemas of a database lacking schema enforcement. The automatically detecting step includes encoding, by an encoder, nodes in the record schemas based on respective updated node labels to obtain a plurality of codes. The encoding step comprises, for each of the plurality of codes: recording, by a label frequency counter, a frequency f1 of the record schemas that include a given label; and recording, by a label frequency counter, a frequency fc of the record schemas that use a given one of the plurality of codes to update a label of a next level. An attribute variation is detected and retrieved responsive to the frequency fc≠0, and the frequency f1&gt;(two times the frequency fc).

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to information processing and,in particular, to automatic attribute structural variation detection fora Not only Structured Query Language (NoSQL) database.

Description of the Related Art

Unlike semi-structured data, such as eXtensible Markup Language (XML)which is always associated with XML Schema Definition (XSD), documentstores using JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) are without explicitmetadata and lack of schema enforcement through the provided ApplicationProgramming Interfaces (APIs). Thus, there is a need for an effectivemechanism to discover metadata from document stores in a post-processingfashion.

However, retrieving metadata from a document store is a challengingtask. As there is no constraint to guarantee only one object type in onecollection (equivalent to a table in relational databases), a collectionmay include records corresponding to more than one object type whereas arelational table persists a single object type with only one schema.Moreover, schemas (i.e., sets of attributes) of the same object type ina collection might also vary because of attribute sparseness in Not onlyStructured Query Language (NoSQL) databases as well as data modelevolutions caused by highly interactive adoption and removal offeatures.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present invention, a method is provided.The method includes automatically detecting, by an attribute structuralvariation detector, attribute structural variations in record schemas ofa database lacking schema enforcement. The automatically detecting stepincludes encoding, by an encoder, nodes in the record schemas based onrespective updated node labels to obtain a plurality of codes. Theencoding step comprises, for each of the plurality of codes: recording,by a label frequency counter, a frequency f₁ of the record schemas thatinclude a given label; and recording, by a label frequency counter, afrequency f_(c) of the record schemas that use a given one of theplurality of codes to update a label of a next level. An attributevariation is detected and retrieved responsive to the frequency f_(c)≠0,and the frequency f₁>(two times the frequency f_(c)).

According to another aspect of the present, a method is provided. Themethod includes automatically detecting, by an attribute structuralvariation detector, attribute structural variations in record schemas ofa database lacking schema enforcement. The automatically detecting stepincludes encoding, by an encoder, nodes in the record schemas based onrespective updated node labels to obtain a plurality of codes. Theautomatically detecting step further includes recording, by a labelfrequency counter, a frequency f₁ of the record schemas that include agiven label. The automatically detecting step also includes recording,by a code use frequency counter, a frequency f_(c) of the record schemasthat use a given one of the plurality of codes to update a label of anext level. An attribute variation is detected and retrieved responsiveto the frequency f_(c)≠0, and the frequency f₁>(two times the frequencyf_(c)).

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a system isprovided for automatically detecting attribute structural variations inrecord schemas of a database lacking schema enforcement. The systemincludes an encoder for encoding nodes in the record schemas based onrespective updated node labels to obtain a plurality of codes. Theencoder, for each of the plurality of codes: records a frequency f₁ ofthe record schemas that include a given label; and records a frequencyf_(c) of the record schemas that use a given one of the plurality ofcodes to update a label of a next level. An attribute variation isdetected and retrieved responsive to the frequency f_(c)≠0, and thefrequency f₁>(two times the frequency f_(c)).

These and other features and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof,which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The disclosure will provide details in the following description ofpreferred embodiments with reference to the following figures wherein:

FIG. 1 shows two exemplary record schemas 110 and 120 having structuralvariations there between, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent principles;

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary processing system 200 to which the presentprinciples may be applied, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent principles;

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary system 300 for automatic attribute structuralvariation detection for a NoSQL database, in accordance with anembodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary method 400 for automatic attribute structuralvariation detection for a NoSQL database, in accordance with anembodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 5 shows method 400 of FIG. 4 applied to three record schemas 501S₁, 502 S₂, and 503 S₃, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentprinciples;

FIG. 6 shows another exemplary method 600 for automatic attributestructural variation detection for a NoSQL database, in accordance withan embodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 7 shows method 600 of FIG. 6 applied to three record schemas 701S₁, 702 S₂, and 703 S₃, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentprinciples;

FIG. 8 shows two exemplary record schemas 810 R₁ and 820 R₂ to which thepresent principles can be applied, in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present principles;

FIG. 9 shows an exemplary cloud computing node 910, in accordance withan embodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 10 shows an exemplary cloud computing environment 1050, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present principles; and

FIG. 11 shows exemplary abstraction model layers, in accordance with anembodiment of the present principles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present principles are directed to automatic attribute structuralvariation detection for a Not only Structured Query Language (NoSQL)database.

In automatic attribute structural variation detection for a NoSQLdatabase, record schemas are input, and meaningful structural variationpairs are output. FIG. 1 shows two exemplary record schemas 110 and 120having structural variations there between, in accordance with anembodiment of the present principles. For automatic attribute structuralvariation detection, the input would be records schemas 110 and 120. Itis noted that record schema 120 includes structural variations withrespect to record schema 110. In particular, record schema 120 includes,in addition to the nodes also included in record schema 110, a nodelabelled “first_name” and another node labelled “last_name”. An outputof the automatic attribute structural variation detection can be, forexample, {root→author→name}={root→author→name→first_(—) name,root→author→name→last_name}. Some exemplary benefits of automaticattribute structural variation detection in accordance with the presentprinciples include a concise format for generating a unique data model(remove duplications), support for implicit queries to fetch values, anddata model provenance.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary processing system 200 to which the presentprinciples may be applied, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent principles. The processing system 200 includes at least oneprocessor (CPU) 204 operatively coupled to other components via a systembus 202. A cache 206, a Read Only Memory (ROM) 208, a Random AccessMemory (RAM) 210, an input/output (I/O) adapter 220, a sound adapter230, a network adapter 240, a user interface adapter 250, and a displayadapter 260, are operatively coupled to the system bus 202.

A first storage device 222 and a second storage device 224 areoperatively coupled to system bus 202 by the I/O adapter 220. Thestorage devices 222 and 224 can be any of a disk storage device (e.g., amagnetic or optical disk storage device), a solid state magnetic device,and so forth. The storage devices 222 and 224 can be the same type ofstorage device or different types of storage devices.

A speaker 232 is operatively coupled to system bus 202 by the soundadapter 230. A transceiver 242 is operatively coupled to system bus 202by network adapter 240. A display device 262 is operatively coupled tosystem bus 202 by display adapter 260.

A first user input device 252, a second user input device 254, and athird user input device 256 are operatively coupled to system bus 202 byuser interface adapter 150. The user input devices 252, 254, and 256 canbe any of a keyboard, a mouse, a keypad, an image capture device, amotion sensing device, a microphone, a device incorporating thefunctionality of at least two of the preceding devices, and so forth. Ofcourse, other types of input devices can also be used, while maintainingthe spirit of the present principles.

The user input devices 252, 254, and 256 can be the same type of userinput device or different types of user input devices. The user inputdevices 252, 254, and 256 are used to input and output information toand from system 200.

Of course, the processing system 200 may also include other elements(not shown), as readily contemplated by one of skill in the art, as wellas omit certain elements. For example, various other input devicesand/or output devices can be included in processing system 200,depending upon the particular implementation of the same, as readilyunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, varioustypes of wireless and/or wired input and/or output devices can be used.Moreover, additional processors, controllers, memories, and so forth, invarious configurations can also be utilized as readily appreciated byone of ordinary skill in the art. These and other variations of theprocessing system 200 are readily contemplated by one of ordinary skillin the art given the teachings of the present principles providedherein.

Moreover, it is to be appreciated that system 300 described below withrespect to FIG. 3 is a system for implementing respective embodiments ofthe present principles. Part or all of processing system 200 may beimplemented in one or more of the elements of system 300.

Further, it is to be appreciated that processing system 200 may performat least part of the method described herein including, for example, atleast part of method 400 of FIG. 4. Similarly, part or all of system 300may be used to perform at least part of method 400 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary system 300 for automatic attribute structuralvariation detection for a NoSQL database, in accordance with anembodiment of the present principles.

The system 300 includes an object type clusterer 310, an encoder 320, acategory clusterer 330, a label frequency counter 340, a code usefrequency counter 350, and an attribute structural variation detector360.

The system 300 includes or interfaces with a database 301. In theembodiment of FIG. 3, the database 301 is included in system 300. Inother embodiments, the system 300 interfaces with the database, whichcan be local or remote with respect to the system 300. For example, inan embodiment, the system 300 can be implemented using a cloudconfiguration. In an embodiment, database 301 is a Not only StructuredQuery Language (NoSQL) database. However, it is to be appreciated thatthe present principles can advantageously be applied to any type ofdatabase that lacks schema enforcement. These and other variations ofsystem 300 are readily determined by one of ordinary skill in the artgiven the teachings of the present principles provided herein, whilemaintaining the spirit of the present principles

The object type clusterer 310 performs clustering to differentiatebetween different object types. In an embodiment, the methods describedherein (methods 400 and 600) are performed for the schema records of asame one of the different object types.

The encoder 320 encodes nodes in the record schemas based on respectiveupdated node labels to obtain a plurality of codes.

The category clusterer 330 clusters the plurality of codes into one of aused category and an unused category, the used category and the unusedcategory respectively consisting of any of the plurality of codes usedor unused to update a child label.

The label frequency counter 340 determines a frequency, f₁, of recordschemas that include a given label, as described in further detailherein below.

The code use frequency counter 350 determines a frequency, f_(c), ofrecord schemas that use a given code to update the label of the nextlevel, as described in further detail herein below.

The attribute structural variation detector 360 detects and retrieves(outputs) attribute structural variations. In an embodiment, when anintersection set formed from the used and unused categories has at leastone member, the at least one member is retrieved as a structuralvariation between at least two of the record schemas. In an embodiment,an attribute variation is detected and retrieved responsive torespective values of the frequency f₁ and the frequency f_(c). Forexample, the attribute variation is detected and retrieved responsive tothe frequency f_(c)≠0, and the frequency f₁>(two times the frequencyf_(c)).

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the elements thereof areinterconnected by a bus 302. However, in other embodiments, other typesof connections can also be used. Moreover, in an embodiment, at leastone of the elements of system 300 is processor-based. Further, while oneor more elements may be shown as separate elements, in otherembodiments, these elements can be combined as one element. The converseis also applicable, where while one or more elements may be part ofanother element, in other embodiments, the one or more elements may beimplemented as standalone elements. These and other variations of theelements of system 300 are readily determined by one of ordinary skillin the art, given the teachings of the present principles providedherein, while maintaining the spirit of the present principles.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary method 400 for automatic attribute structuralvariation detection for a NoSQL database, in accordance with anembodiment of the present principles.

At step 405, perform clustering to cluster record schemas into differentobject types. In an embodiment, steps 410 through 430 are performed forthe record schemas of one of the different object types, and can berepeated for another one of the different object types, and so on.

At step 410, scan the record schema level-by-level from root to leaf andencode the record schema iteratively. Step 410 includes steps 410A,410B, and 410C.

At step 410A, assign an integer to a node based on the label-code map ofits corresponding level. In an embodiment, the label-code map for agiven level is a listing of the labels on that level. In an embodiment,step 410A can be represented by a data arrangement (data structure) foreach node that includes the level the node is on, the label assigned tothat node, and the integer assigned to that node. Any of the precedingdata elements can be explicitly or implicitly provided. For example, anarrangement omitting the level can be predetermined to be first levelafter the root level/node. Examples of the preceding data arrangementare provided below. However, the present principles are not limited tothe specific examples and thus other data arrangements can also be usedwhile maintaining the spirit of the present principles.

At step 410B, replace the label of the node by the integer.

At step 410C, append and/or otherwise associate a node's label (i.e.,the integer itself, which serves as an updated label) onto/with itschild's label, then leverage code map the next level to encode itschildren.

As an example of the former portion of step 410C (“append and/orotherwise associate a node's label onto/with its child's label”), wepoint to the box in the lower left corner of FIG. 5, where the child'slabel which was previously “_id” is updated to “3,_id”.

As used herein, leverage code map the next level to encode its childrenrefers to using the code map to update the nodes whose parent nodes arein the code map. As an example of the latter portion of step 410C(“leverage code map the next level to encode its children”), we point tothe box in the lower right corner of FIG. 5, where to encode the nodesin level 3 the code map of level 2 used (such that, e.g., “first_name”is updated to “2,first_name”).

At step 420, for each level, split codes into the following twocategories in updating a child's label: used; and unused.

At step 430, perform attribute structural variation detection. Step 430involves, for each level, detecting a structural variation when twocategories' intersection set is not empty.

FIG. 5 shows method 400 of FIG. 4 applied to three record schemas 501S₁, 502 S₂, and 503 S₃, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentprinciples. To that end, FIG. 5 shows the three schemas 501 S₁, 502 S₂,and 503 S₃. It is to be note that method 400 does not address namingconvention issues (e.g., different names for similarly positioned nodes)or missing nodes (e.g., “id” is missing from schema 501 S₂, relative toschemas 501 S₁ and 503 S₃), such that only additional nodes (e.g.,“first_name” and “last_name”) are detected).

In schema 501 S₁, the following applies:

For the first level after the root level/node (article_id, author,text), the integer assignments (step 410A) and code categories (step420) are as follows:

article_id: 1

text: 2

author: 3

unused:{1, 2} and used: {3}

For the second level after the root level/node (_id, name), the integerassignments (step 410A) and code categories (step 420) are as follows:

3,_id: 1

3,name: 2

unused: {1, 2}

In schema 502 S₂, the following applies:

For the first level after the root level/node (did, author, text), theinteger assignments (step 410A) and code categories (step 420) are asfollows:

article_id: 1

text: 2

author: 3

Did: 4

unused: {1, 2, 4} and used: {3}

For the second level after the root level/node (name), the integerassignments (step 410A) and code categories (step 420) are as follows:

3,_id: 1

3,name: 2

unused: {1, 2}

In schema 503 S₃, the following applies:

For the first level after the root level/node (article_id, author,text), the integer assignments (step 410A) and code categories (step420) are as follows:

article_id: 1

text: 2

author: 3

did: 4

unused: {1, 2, 4} and used: {3}

For the second level after the root level/node (_id, name), the integerassignments (step 410A) and code categories (step 420) are as follows:

3,_id: 1

3,name: 2

unused: {1, 2} and used: {2}

For the third (last) level after the root level/node (first_name,last_name), where automatic attribute structural variation detection(step 430) results in the following:

2,first_name: 1

2,last_name: 2

FIG. 6 shows another exemplary method 600 for automatic attributestructural variation detection for a NoSQL database, in accordance withan embodiment of the present principles. The method 600 is based onstatistics.

At step 610, perform the original encoding method (method 400).

At step 610A (step 410), during encoding, for each code, record twofrequencies as follows: (1) the frequency, f₁, of record schemas thatinclude this label; and (2) the frequency, f_(c), of record schemas thatuse the corresponding code to update the label of the next level.

At step 620, perform attribute structural variation detection. Thedetection can involve the following:

f_(c)=0, which is represented as a leaf node in every record schema;

f₁=f_(c), which is represented as a non-leaf node in every recordschema;

f₁>f_(c)&f_(c)≠0, which is represented as a leaf node in some recordschemas, and as a non-leaf node in other record schemas. This caseindicates that a structural variation exists. We note that fc&fc isequivalent to fc+fc as well as two times (2×) fc.

In an embodiment of method 600, step 420 can be skipped and step 430 ismodified to consider the preceding rules to detect an attributestructural variation. However, in other embodiments, method 400 withstep 420 can be performed, so that the inventive concepts of bothmethods are implicated to detect an attribute structural variation.

FIG. 7 shows method 600 of FIG. 6 applied to three record schemas 701S₁, 702 S₂, and 703 S₃, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentprinciples. To that end, FIG. 7 shows the three schemas 701 S₁, 702 S₂,and 703 S₃. We note that schemas 501 S₁, 502 S₂, and 703 S₃ (from FIG.5) are equivalent to schemas 701 S₁, 702 S₂, and 703 S₃ (from FIG. 7),but the corresponding methods applied thereto are different as shown inthese Figures.

In schema 701 S₁, the following applies:

For the first level after the root level/node (article_id, author,text), the recorded frequencies f₁ and f_(c) are as follows:

article_id: 1 (1,0)

text: 2 (1,0)

author: 3 (1,1)

For the second level after the root level/node (_id, name), the recordedfrequencies f₁ and f_(c) are as follows:

3,_id: 1 (1,0)

3,name: 2 (1,0)

In schema 702 S₂, the following applies:

For the first level after the root level/node (did, author, text), therecorded frequencies f₁ and f_(c) are as follows:

article_id: 1 (2,0)

text: 2 (2,0)

author: 3 (2,2)

Did: 4 (1,0)

For the second level after the root level/node (name), the recordedfrequencies f₁ and f_(c) are as follows:

3,_id: 1 (2,0)

3,name: 2 (2,0)

In schema 703 S₃, the following applies:

For the first level after the root level/node (article_id, author,text), the recorded frequencies f₁ and f_(c) are as follows:

article_id: 1 (3,0)

text: 2 (3,0)

author: 3 (3,3)

did: 4 (1,0)

For the second level after the root level/node (_id, name), the recordedfrequencies f₁ and f_(c) are as follows:

3,_id: 1 (3,0)

3,name: 2 (3,1)

For the third (last) level after the root level/node (first_name,last_name), where automatic attribute structural variation detection(step 620) results in the following:

2,first_name: 1

2,last_name: 2

A description will now be given regarding the problem of significance,with respect to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 shows two exemplary record schemas 810 R₁and 820 R₂ to which the present principles can be applied, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present principles.

R1: {“customer_id”: 534, “name”:{“first_name”:“James”,“last_name”:“Bond”}, “gender”:“Male”}

R2: {“product_id”: “KM4ew”, “name”: “Shampoo”, “price”:10.8,“discount”:true}

The attribute structural detector might output some meaningless results,based on the structural variation results. For example, based on theprevious method (method 600), there is a structural variance in thefollowing two records as: {root→name}={root→name→first_name,root→name→last_name}. However, these two attributes are from twodifferent object types (product and customer).

The solution to this problem is to cluster records into different objecttypes before attribute structural variance detection.

A clustering method will now be described, in accordance with anembodiment of the present principles. The clustering method can relateto step 405 of method 400.

The method is applied to features, which can include the following: anattribute name; an instance; and a composite attribute and instance asthe feature.

The attribute name can be for example, a schema of a record such as, forexample:

feature of R1: root→customer_id, root→name→first_name,root→name→last_name, root→gender

feature of R2: root→product_id, root→name, root→price, root→discount

The instance can be a value of a record such as, for example:

feature of R1::{“Male”}

feature of R2: {“Shampoo”}

The method applied to the features can be, for example, but is notlimited to, K-Means, the faster-neighbor clustering algorithm, and soforth.

It is understood in advance that although this disclosure includes adetailed description on cloud computing, implementation of the teachingsrecited herein are not limited to a cloud computing environment. Rather,embodiments of the present invention are capable of being implemented inconjunction with any other type of computing environment now known orlater developed.

Cloud computing is a model of service delivery for enabling convenient,on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computingresources (e.g. networks, network bandwidth, servers, processing,memory, storage, applications, virtual machines, and services) that canbe rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort orinteraction with a provider of the service. This cloud model may includeat least five characteristics, at least three service models, and atleast four deployment models.

Characteristics are as follows:

On-demand self-service: a cloud consumer can unilaterally provisioncomputing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, asneeded automatically without requiring human interaction with theservice's provider.

Broad network access: capabilities are available over a network andaccessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneousthin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, and PDAs).

Resource pooling: the provider's computing resources are pooled to servemultiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physicaland virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according todemand. There is a sense of location independence in that the consumergenerally has no control or knowledge over the exact location of theprovided resources but may be able to specify location at a higher levelof abstraction (e.g., country, state, or datacenter).

Rapid elasticity: capabilities can be rapidly and elasticallyprovisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly scale out andrapidly released to quickly scale in. To the consumer, the capabilitiesavailable for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can bepurchased in any quantity at any time.

Measured service: cloud systems automatically control and optimizeresource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level ofabstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage,processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource usage can bemonitored, controlled, and reported providing transparency for both theprovider and consumer of the utilized service.

Service Models are as follows:

Software as a Service (SaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto use the provider's applications running on a cloud infrastructure.The applications are accessible from various client devices through athin client interface such as a web browser (e.g., web-based email). Theconsumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructureincluding network, servers, operating systems, storage, or evenindividual application capabilities, with the possible exception oflimited user-specific application configuration settings.

Platform as a Service (PaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquiredapplications created using programming languages and tools supported bythe provider. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure including networks, servers, operating systems, orstorage, but has control over the deployed applications and possiblyapplication hosting environment configurations.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): the capability provided to theconsumer is to provision processing, storage, networks, and otherfundamental computing resources where the consumer is able to deploy andrun arbitrary software, which can include operating systems andapplications. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure but has control over operating systems, storage,deployed applications, and possibly limited control of select networkingcomponents (e.g., host firewalls).

Deployment Models are as follows:

Private cloud: the cloud infrastructure is operated solely for anorganization. It may be managed by the organization or a third party andmay exist on-premises or off-premises.

Community cloud: the cloud infrastructure is shared by severalorganizations and supports a specific community that has shared concerns(e.g., mission, security requirements, policy, and complianceconsiderations). It may be managed by the organizations or a third partyand may exist on-premises or off-premises.

Public cloud: the cloud infrastructure is made available to the generalpublic or a large industry group and is owned by an organization sellingcloud services.

Hybrid cloud: the cloud infrastructure is a composition of two or moreclouds (private, community, or public) that remain unique entities butare bound together by standardized or proprietary technology thatenables data and application portability (e.g., cloud bursting for loadbalancing between clouds).

A cloud computing environment is service oriented with a focus onstatelessness, low coupling, modularity, and semantic interoperability.At the heart of cloud computing is an infrastructure comprising anetwork of interconnected nodes.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a schematic of an example of a cloud computingnode 910 is shown. Cloud computing node 910 is only one example of asuitable cloud computing node and is not intended to suggest anylimitation as to the scope of use or functionality of embodiments of theinvention described herein. Regardless, cloud computing node 910 iscapable of being implemented and/or performing any of the functionalityset forth hereinabove.

In cloud computing node 910 there is a computer system/server 912, whichis operational with numerous other general purpose or special purposecomputing system environments or configurations. Examples of well-knowncomputing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may besuitable for use with computer system/server 912 include, but are notlimited to, personal computer systems, server computer systems, thinclients, thick clients, handheld or laptop devices, multiprocessorsystems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmableconsumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputer systems, mainframecomputer systems, and distributed cloud computing environments thatinclude any of the above systems or devices, and the like.

Computer system/server 912 may be described in the general context ofcomputer system executable instructions, such as program modules, beingexecuted by a computer system. Generally, program modules may includeroutines, programs, objects, components, logic, data structures, and soon that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract datatypes. Computer system/server 912 may be practiced in distributed cloudcomputing environments where tasks are performed by remote processingdevices that are linked through a communications network. In adistributed cloud computing environment, program modules may be locatedin both local and remote computer system storage media including memorystorage devices.

As shown in FIG. 9, computer system/server 912 in cloud computing node910 is shown in the form of a general-purpose computing device. Thecomponents of computer system/server 912 may include, but are notlimited to, one or more processors or processing units 916, a systemmemory 928, and a bus 918 that couples various system componentsincluding system memory 928 to processor 916.

Bus 918 represents one or more of any of several types of busstructures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheralbus, an accelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus usingany of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, and notlimitation, such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture(ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA)bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, andPeripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus.

Computer system/server 912 typically includes a variety of computersystem readable media. Such media may be any available media that isaccessible by computer system/server 912, and it includes both volatileand non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media.

System memory 928 can include computer system readable media in the formof volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 930 and/or cachememory 932. Computer system/server 912 may further include otherremovable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer system storagemedia. By way of example only, storage system 934 can be provided forreading from and writing to a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media(not shown and typically called a “hard drive”). Although not shown, amagnetic disk drive for reading from and writing to a removable,non-volatile magnetic disk (e.g., a “floppy disk”), and an optical diskdrive for reading from or writing to a removable, non-volatile opticaldisk such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other optical media can be provided.In such instances, each can be connected to bus 918 by one or more datamedia interfaces. As will be further depicted and described below,memory 928 may include at least one program product having a set (e.g.,at least one) of program modules that are configured to carry out thefunctions of embodiments of the invention.

Program/utility 940, having a set (at least one) of program modules 942,may be stored in memory 928 by way of example, and not limitation, aswell as an operating system, one or more application programs, otherprogram modules, and program data. Each of the operating system, one ormore application programs, other program modules, and program data orsome combination thereof, may include an implementation of a networkingenvironment. Program modules 942 generally carry out the functionsand/or methodologies of embodiments of the invention as describedherein.

Computer system/server 912 may also communicate with one or moreexternal devices 914 such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a display924, etc.; one or more devices that enable a user to interact withcomputer system/server 912; and/or any devices (e.g., network card,modem, etc.) that enable computer system/server 912 to communicate withone or more other computing devices. Such communication can occur viaInput/Output (I/O) interfaces 922. Still yet, computer system/server 912can communicate with one or more networks such as a local area network(LAN), a general wide area network (WAN), and/or a public network (e.g.,the Internet) via network adapter 920. As depicted, network adapter 920communicates with the other components of computer system/server 912 viabus 918. It should be understood that although not shown, other hardwareand/or software components could be used in conjunction with computersystem/server 912. Examples, include, but are not limited to: microcode,device drivers, redundant processing units, external disk drive arrays,RAID systems, tape drives, data archival storage systems, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 10, illustrative cloud computing environment 1050is depicted. As shown, cloud computing environment 1050 comprises one ormore cloud computing nodes 1010 with which local computing devices usedby cloud consumers, such as, for example, personal digital assistant(PDA) or cellular telephone 1054A, desktop computer 1054B, laptopcomputer 1054C, and/or automobile computer system 1054N may communicate.Nodes 1010 may communicate with one another. They may be grouped (notshown) physically or virtually, in one or more networks, such asPrivate, Community, Public, or Hybrid clouds as described hereinabove,or a combination thereof. This allows cloud computing environment 1050to offer infrastructure, platforms and/or software as services for whicha cloud consumer does not need to maintain resources on a localcomputing device. It is understood that the types of computing devices1054A-N shown in FIG. 10 are intended to be illustrative only and thatcomputing nodes 1010 and cloud computing environment 1050 cancommunicate with any type of computerized device over any type ofnetwork and/or network addressable connection (e.g., using a webbrowser).

Referring now to FIG. 12, a set of functional abstraction layersprovided by cloud computing environment 1150 (FIG. 11) is shown. Itshould be understood in advance that the components, layers, andfunctions shown in FIG. 12 are intended to be illustrative only andembodiments of the invention are not limited thereto. As depicted, thefollowing layers and corresponding functions are provided:

Hardware and software layer 1260 includes hardware and softwarecomponents. Examples of hardware components include mainframes, in oneexample IBM® zSeries® systems; RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer)architecture based servers, in one example IBM pSeries® systems; IBMxSeries® systems; IBM BladeCenter® systems; storage devices; networksand networking components. Examples of software components includenetwork application server software, in one example IBM WebSphere®application server software; and database software, in one example IBMDB2® database software. (IBM, zSeries, pSeries, xSeries, BladeCenter,WebSphere, and DB2 are trademarks of International Business MachinesCorporation registered in many jurisdictions worldwide).

Virtualization layer 1262 provides an abstraction layer from which thefollowing examples of virtual entities may be provided: virtual servers;virtual storage; virtual networks, including virtual private networks;virtual applications and operating systems; and virtual clients.

In one example, management layer 1264 may provide the functionsdescribed below. Resource provisioning provides dynamic procurement ofcomputing resources and other resources that are utilized to performtasks within the cloud computing environment. Metering and Pricingprovide cost tracking as resources are utilized within the cloudcomputing environment, and billing or invoicing for consumption of theseresources. In one example, these resources may comprise applicationsoftware licenses. Security provides identity verification for cloudconsumers and tasks, as well as protection for data and other resources.User portal provides access to the cloud computing environment forconsumers and system administrators. Service level management providescloud computing resource allocation and management such that requiredservice levels are met. Service Level Agreement (SLA) planning andfulfillment provide pre-arrangement for, and procurement of, cloudcomputing resources for which a future requirement is anticipated inaccordance with an SLA.

Workloads layer 1266 provides examples of functionality for which thecloud computing environment may be utilized. Examples of workloads andfunctions which may be provided from this layer include: mapping andnavigation; software development and lifecycle management; virtualclassroom education delivery; data analytics processing; transactionprocessing; and automatic attribute structural variation detection.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product. The computer program product may include a computerreadable storage medium (or media) having computer readable programinstructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of thepresent invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like,and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computeror entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide areanetwork (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer(for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example,programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), orprogrammable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readableprogram instructions by utilizing state information of the computerreadable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry,in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” ofthe present principles, as well as other variations thereof, means thata particular feature, structure, characteristic, and so forth describedin connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodimentof the present principles. Thus, the appearances of the phrase “in oneembodiment” or “in an embodiment”, as well any other variations,appearing in various places throughout the specification are notnecessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

It is to be appreciated that the use of any of the following “/”,“and/or”, and “at least one of”, for example, in the cases of “A/B”, “Aand/or B” and “at least one of A and B”, is intended to encompass theselection of the first listed option (A) only, or the selection of thesecond listed option (B) only, or the selection of both options (A andB). As a further example, in the cases of “A, B, and/or C” and “at leastone of A, B, and C”, such phrasing is intended to encompass theselection of the first listed option (A) only, or the selection of thesecond listed option (B) only, or the selection of the third listedoption (C) only, or the selection of the first and the second listedoptions (A and B) only, or the selection of the first and third listedoptions (A and C) only, or the selection of the second and third listedoptions (B and C) only, or the selection of all three options (A and Band C). This may be extended, as readily apparent by one of ordinaryskill in this and related arts, for as many items listed.

Having described preferred embodiments of a system and method (which areintended to be illustrative and not limiting), it is noted thatmodifications and variations can be made by persons skilled in the artin light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood thatchanges may be made in the particular embodiments disclosed which arewithin the scope of the invention as outlined by the appended claims.Having thus described aspects of the invention, with the details andparticularity required by the patent laws, what is claimed and desiredprotected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: automatically detecting, byan attribute structural variation detector, attribute structuralvariations in record schemas of a database lacking schema enforcement,wherein said automatically detecting step includes: encoding, by anencoder, nodes in the record schemas based on respective updated nodelabels to obtain a plurality of codes; wherein said encoding stepcomprises, for each of the plurality of codes: recording, by a labelfrequency counter, a frequency f₁ of the record schemas that include agiven label; and recording, by a label frequency counter, a frequencyf_(c) of the record schemas that use a given one of the plurality ofcodes to update a label of a next level, wherein an attribute variationis detected and retrieved responsive to the frequency f_(c)≠0, and thefrequency f₁>(two times the frequency f_(c)).
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein an attribute variation is detected and retrieved responsive torespective values of the frequency f₁ and the frequency f_(c).
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the attribute structural variations areautomatically detected by the attribute structural variation detectorbased on following rules: the frequency f_(c)=0, which represents that agiven node is a leaf node in all of the record schemas; the frequencyf₁=the frequency f_(c), which represents that the given node is anon-leaf node in all of the record schemas; and the frequency f₁>a sumof the frequencies f_(c) and f_(c)≠0, which represents that the givennode is the leaf node in some of the record schemas and the non-leafnode in others of the record schemas, thereby indicating that astructural variation exists.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein thedatabase is a Not Only Structured Query Language database.
 5. The methodof claim 1, further comprising clustering, by a clusterer, todifferentiate between different object types, and wherein the method isperformed for the schema records of a same one of the different objecttypes.
 6. A non-transitory article of manufacture tangibly embodying acomputer readable program which when executed causes a computer toperform the steps of claim
 1. 7. A method, comprising: automaticallydetecting, by an attribute structural variation detector, attributestructural variations in record schemas of a database lacking schemaenforcement, wherein said automatically detecting step includes:encoding, by an encoder, nodes in the record schemas based on respectiveupdated node labels to obtain a plurality of codes; recording, by alabel frequency counter, a frequency f₁ of the record schemas thatinclude a given label; recording, by a code use frequency counter, afrequency f_(c) of the record schemas that use a given one of theplurality of codes to update a label of a next level; and wherein anattribute variation is detected and retrieved responsive to thefrequency f_(c)≠0, and the frequency f₁>(two times the frequency f_(c)).8. The method of claim 7, wherein the attribute structural variationsare automatically detected by the attribute structural variationdetector based on following rules: the frequency f_(c)=0, whichrepresents that a given node is a leaf node in all of the recordschemas; the frequency f₁=the frequency f_(c), which represents that thegiven node is a non-leaf node in all of the record schemas; and thefrequency f₁>a sum of the frequencies f_(c) and f_(c)≠0, whichrepresents that the given node is the leaf node in some of the recordschemas and the non-leaf node in others of the record schemas, therebyindicating that a structural variation exists.
 9. A non-transitoryarticle of manufacture tangibly embodying a computer readable programwhich when executed causes a computer to perform the steps of claim 7.10. A system for automatically detecting attribute structural variationsin record schemas of a database lacking schema enforcement, the systemcomprising: an encoder for encoding nodes in the record schemas based onrespective updated node labels to obtain a plurality of codes; whereinsaid encoder, for each of the plurality of codes: records a frequency f₁of the record schemas that include a given label; and records afrequency f_(c) of the record schemas that use a given one of theplurality of codes to update a label of a next level, wherein anattribute variation is detected and retrieved responsive to thefrequency f_(c)≠0, and the frequency f₁>(two times the frequency f_(c)).11. The system of claim 10, wherein an attribute variation is detectedand retrieved responsive to respective values of the frequency f₁ andthe frequency f_(c).
 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the attributestructural variations are automatically detected by the attributestructural variation detector based on following rules: the frequencyf_(c)=0, which represents that a given node is a leaf node in all of therecord schemas; the frequency f₁=the frequency f_(c), which representsthat the given node is a non-leaf node in all of the record schemas; andthe frequency f₁>a sum of the frequencies f_(c) and f_(c)≠0, whichrepresents that the given node is the leaf node in some of the recordschemas and the non-leaf node in others of the record schemas, therebyindicating that a structural variation exists.